Apparatus for producing a prolonged relatively straight-line radial engagement with rotary motion



Dec. 6, 1966 T 3,290,202 D RELATIVELY STRAIGHT-LINE ROTARY MOTION R. H. PRAT APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A PROLO RADIAL ENGAGEMENT W Filed July 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

R. H. PRATT Dec. 6, 1966 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A PROLONGED RELATIVELY STRAIGHT-LINE RADIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ROTARY MOTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1963 INVENTOR Attornevs 3,290,202 Y STRAIGHT-LINE ION 5 She H. PRATT PR OLONGED RELATIVEL ENT WITH ROTARY MOT ets-Sheet 5 R. NG A GAGEM Dec. 6, 1966 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCI RADIAL EN Filed July 23, 1963 INVEN A UA/W Q BY Attorneys WHEHHW.

3,290,202 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A PROLONGED RELATIVELY STRAIGHT-LINE RADIAL EN- GAGEMENT WITH ROTARY MOTION Robert H. Pratt, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Pratt Manufacturing Corp, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 297,103 14 Claims. (Cl. 156--583) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing a prolonged relative straight-line radial engagement with rotary motion.

Heretofore, when two peripherally contacting rotary members have been used to produce a sealing pressure or a cut-off pressure at a predetermined point in their rotation, there has been only a momentary line engagement which is instantly broken as the members rotate past the contact point. Where heat sealing of plastic materials or the like is involved, this type of arrangement is unsatisfactory, as a longer period of contact is required to produce the heat seal than can be obtained with conventional rotary devices. Also, where a cut-off action is desired on a moving web this has heretofore been satisfactory only where a momentary cut-off pressure will produce the desired result. In any shearing action is required, or if a knife element or blade must enter a recess, or if a tuck-in action is desired, then the conventional rotary device becomes inoperative as the knife element or blade will break off if there is the required snug fit in a cooperating recess, as a blade on one rotatable member cannot enter a slot in a cooperating rotatable member because the cooperating parts are radially aligned only at exact center position and such alignment ceases immediately after leaving said center position.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved device including two cooperable rotatable members having cooperable elements thereon, wherein the device provides for relatively straight-line radial engagement both before and after the two cooperating elements reach center position. This straight-line radial engagement can be made effective for as long as 30 on each side of center position. In addition, there is a novel means for compensating for mechanical error in the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device as above described which may be used effectively to provide for heat sealing of material such as polyethylene, where a prolonged period of radial engagement between the pressure sealing elements is required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device, as above described, which may be used alternatively with a die cutting knife, a shearing knife or tucking blade on one rotatable member which is adapted to enter a slot or recess in the cooperating rotatalble member, the arrangement being such as to permit a snug fit of the knife or blade in the slot without having the knife or the blade break off as would normally be the case.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved apparatus for producing a prolonged relatively straight-line radial engagement with rotary motion, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved apparatus, looking principally at the top thereof;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.

United States Patent "ice 1, parts being shown by dot-and-dash lines so as not to confuse;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. I with certain related parts shown by dot-and-dash lines and with the movable members indicated in several progressive positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view looking in the same direction as FIG. 3 to show another position of the die and cam members;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the cooperating die members as used for adhesive sealing and pressure cutoff purposes, part of some of the side plates being broken away to show the interior of one of the die elements;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the parts of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the adjustable fork member, the shaft on which it is mounted being shown in section;

FIG. 8 is an edge view of the fork of FIG. 7 With the shaft omitted; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing cooperating paper tucking elements which may be substituted for the elements shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a suitable frame having oppositely disposed side members 11 and 12. Journaled between said members is a shaft 13 which is adapted to be driven in any suitable manner. In the drawing a hand crank 14 is illustrated. It is to be understood, however, that this shaft will in most instances be driven by a suitable motor. Mounted rigidly on the shaft 13 are pinions 14 and 15, pinion 14 being larger than pinion 15. Pinion 14 has a 2:1 drive ratio with a pinion 16 rigidly mounted on another shaft 17 which is also journaled transversely between the frame members 11 and 12. Loosely mounted on shaft 17 is a pinion 18 which is. in engagement with and of the same size as pinion 15.

Rigidly secured to the inner face of pinion 18 for rotation therewith is a bar 19, through which the shaft 17 passes. Projecting from a face of the bar is a pin 20, which pin has its free end projecting into a relatively large hole 21 in a bar 22 intermediate the length of the latter. The bar 22 has its inner end fitted with a bushing 23 through which the shaft 17 loosely extends, whereby the bar 22 is swingable relative to the shaft as permitted by the clearance between the pin 20 and the hole 21, which clearance may be adjusted by a set screw 28. The outer end of the bar 22 rotatably supports a cam follower roller 24. The bar 22 constitutes a lost motion member. The roller 24 is of slightly less diameter than the width of the slot in the fork member 35. A coil spring 25 has one end connected to an arm 26 on the bar 19 and has its other end connected to an arm 27 near the outer end of the bar 22. The spring normally urges the outer end of the arm 22 in an upward direction, referring to FIG. 1, and in a clockwise direction, referring to FIG. 2, until the set screw 28 engages the pin 20. The pin 20 and spring holder 26 may, if desired, be connected directly to the face of gear 18.

Mounted rigidly on the shaft 17 for rotation therewith is another pinion 29 which is the same size as the pinion 16. A planetary pinion 30 is rotatably carried by the end of the bar 22 and is in engagement with the pinion 29, the pinion being mounted coaxially with the cam follower roller 24 and on the opposite side of the bar 22 therefrom. Rigidly mounted on the outer face of the planetary pinion 30 is a die block or element 31 (FIG. 3) or 131 (FIG. 9) which may carry a cutting or tuck-in blade 134 as in FIG. 9, a combination heat sealing and pressure cut-off die part as in FIGS. 1 and 4, a pressure pad sealer and v cut-off element as in FIG. 5, or any similar element. The

latter rotates with the planetary pinion 30 and is adapted to coact with a cooperating die or shoe 32 rockably mounted on the end of a die block 33, the latter being rigidly mounted on the shaft 13 for rotation therewith. The cam follower 24 is adapted to eventuallyenter the slot 34 of a cam member 35 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 13. The fork members 36 on each side of the cam slot are rounded at their entrance ends as at 37 (FIG. 7). The cam member 35 is preferably adjustable in length by the use of a forked plate 35 (FIG. 7), having slots 38 therein through which adjustment bolts 38 extend. By loosening the bolts 38' the effective length of the cam member may be varied to suit requirements. The adjustment of the forked portion 35 is usually made at the time of initial setup of the machine so that the cam follower 24 is picked up at a proper time, and is then left in properly adjusted condition.

In order to compensate for mechanical error which is inherent in this type of device, and to maintain proper parallelism between the die member 31 and shoe 32 at the proper point in the cycle of operation, the shoe 32 has been mounted for rocking movement as shown more clearly in FIGS. and 6. Here it will be seen the shoe 32 is arcuate on its inner side as at 50 to rock against rollers 51 suitably supported in the member 33. The rockable shoe 32 has its opposite sides formed with arcuate grooves 52. Rollers 53 which are carried by and project from side plates 54 engage the arcuate grooves 52 to maintain the element 32 in position while permitting rocking movement. The side plates 54 are detachably held in position by bolts 55.

Operation When referring to FIG. 3, it will be assumed that the shaft 13 is being rotated in a clockwise direction looking at FIG. 3, it being understood, of course, that the device will operate in either direction of rotation. As the planetary gear 30 travels around to position A at the top of the gear 29, the die block 31 will be facing in a generally downward direction but will be just starting to rotate with the gear 30 toward an upright position. When the planetary gear 30 has progressed to position B the die block 31 and pressure pads or elements 40 will be almost upright. At the same time, the cam follower 24 will be met by the cam fork 35 in B position. Inasmuch as the longitudinal axis of the die block 33 on the shaft 13 is in radial alignment with the longitudinal center line for the slot 34 of the cam fork, both the cam work and die block 33 will be in alignment at the B position so that the pressure pads 40 will be almost ready to close against the heat sealing end 32. As soon as the cam follower 24 starts riding around on the curved portion 37 of the end of the top fork of the cam member 35 this temporarily causes the planetary gear 30 to advance faster than the gear 29 to quickly arrange the ends of elements 40 parallel to the end 32. As the cam follower travels toward the flat portion 34 of the cam groove it causes continued pivotal motion of the bar 22 to cause the bar and planetary gear 30 to move relative to the gear 29 with the pin 20 moving away from the set screw 28 (FIG. 2) toward the opposite side of the hole 20. The amount of free motion may be adjusted by manipulation of the set screw 28. During such movement the coil spring 25 is stretched. The action just described permits the die parts 32 and 40 to come into straight-line engagement before reaching the center position C of FIG. 3, which position will be referred to in the claims as center positions. This straight-line engagement between the pressure pads is maintained for a number of degrees of rotation prior to arriving at center position C, and for a number of degrees after leaving center position C, or until the parts arrive at position D of FIG. 4 when the cam follower 25 starts to roll back around the curved end 37. As soon as this occurs, the pressure pads 40 start to move angularly away from the straight-line engagement with the end 32 of the member 32.

When the device is being used with the heat sealing members of FIGS. 1 and 4, during straight-line radial engagement the springs 41 which surround the pins 42 are compressed so that the pressure pads 40 act yieldingly against the end 32, as is shown by position C of FIG. 3, to cause material between the elements 40 and 32 to be heat sealed along spaced transverse lines, there being an electric heating element 39 connected to the element 32. If a pressure cut-off is being employed, together with the heat sealing, a pressure cut-off blade 43 will be in contact with the end face 32 to cut off a web between the two sealed areas. Thus, the device may be used in the forming of end-sealed plastic containers from a continuous web, with the indvidual containers being cut off by the blade 43.

If a material is being employed which requires a shearing action in order to cut, then a shearing recess may be used in the end face 32 of the member 32 which is actually entered by the end of a suitable shearing knife Which may be substituted for the pointed, tapered pressure blade 43. Due to the prolonged radial engagement which is permitted by the present invention, such a shear ing engagement is entirely practical (see FIG. 9).

As the parts progress from position D, FIG. 4, the cam follower 24 moves around on the curved surface 37 of the cam to position E, FIG. 3. This frees the cam follower from the action of the cam, and the spring 25, acting on the bar 22, pulls the bar back to a position of engagement with the end of the set screw 28, the gear 30 moving with it and in a backward direction with respect to gear 29. The gear 30 is now free for normal move ment with respect to and around the gear 29. It is to be noted that the line of engagement between the face 32 and the face of the pressure pads 40 is aligned with the axis of the planetary gear 30 and is in transverse alignment with the meeting pitch lines of meshing gears 15 and 18.

Due to the prolonged straight-line engagement permitted by the improved mechanism, the device may also For example, in

be used for various other purposes. FIG. 9 there is a die member 132 having a slot 133. There is also a member 131 mounted on the planetary gear 30 which member 131 has a tuck-in blade 134. This blade is adapted to tuck the end of paper 135 into the slot 133, this being useful in the manufacture of bags and other items from paper or other thin material. This same type of arrangement may also be used for shearing.

The shoe structure illustrated in FIG. 5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except that in FIG. 5 there are rubber compression pads 40' for coaction with the pads 40 when the device is to be used for adhesive sealing of the ends of tubular packaging material or the like, with cutoff therebetween. Where heat sealing is employed, as in FIG. 1, the rubber pads 40' are not used.

In the claims, the members 40 or 131 are being referred to as die elements, as are the cooperating shoes 32 or 132.

In order to compensate for possible mechanical error in the manufacture or adjustment of the parts, the shoe 32 has been mounted for rocking movement as heretofore described and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. In actual use there is probably only about a 2 rocking movement in one direction or the other which takes place. This rocking motion comes in during the critical period in the cycle of operation to ensure maintaining parallelism between the faces of the cooperating die members parts 40 and 32 from a point somewhat in advance of the center position to a point somewhat beyond center position, as heretofore desgribed, without putting any strain on the parts due to possible inaccuracies in manufacture.

In order to further ensure proper operation of the machine, adjustment of the cam fork 35 by way of the adjustable extension 35 of FIG. 7 has been provided. By properly adjusting the length of the cam members at the time of initial setup of the machine the cam follower 24 will be picked up at a proper time.

It is thus apparent that various operation which require a relatively long straight-line entry and withdrawal can be accomplished with rotary motion, due to the prolonged straight-line radial engagement provided by the novel mechanism of the present invention. Where two wheels which are in peripheral engagement are used for cut-off purposes, there is only momentary engagement so that only items which can be cut off by momentary pressure can be handled on such conventional devices. It would be impossible to provide for engagements of cooperating parts as is required in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9 with conventional rotary devices.

While for simplicity of description the device illustrated has only one set of cooperating die members 31 and 33, it is obvious that a multiplicity of such members may be provided so that there are a plurality of operations performed in each 360 degrees of rotation. It is quite practical to have three of the members 33 on the shaft 13 each 120 apart, with three planetary pinions such as the pinion 30 each carrying a die member 31. Where a multiplicity of units is provided they may differ in characteristics for example, one might be a cutter and sealer as shown in FIG. 5, and another might be a tucker as shown in FIG. 9.

Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a cooperating die element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the die element of one rotatable members so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said die elements, and means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation.

2. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straightline radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the die elementof one rotatable member so as .to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said die elements, and cooperating cam means on the other rotatable member and on said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation 3. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and havinga die element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straight line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, com mon driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member having a cam follower thereon for supporting the die element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said die elements, and a cam fork on the other rotatable member having a slot with cam shaped entrance ends for coaction with said cam follower to cause relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation.

4. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the die element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member on each side of said center position whereby there is straight-time radial engagement between said die elements both before and after arriving at said center position, and means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at predetermined time in the cycle of operation.

5. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a driven shaft rotatably supported in said frame, a second rotatable shaft in said frame, transmission means between said driven shaft and said second shaft for causing rotation of the second shaft at a higher speed than said first shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted on said second shaft, means between said first and second shafts for driving said loosely mounted rotary member at the same speed as said first shaft, an arm rigidly projecting from said first shaft, a die element carried by the outer end of said arm, lost motion means on said loosely mounted rotatable member supporting a cooperating die element in such a position that said last die element may be rotated into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the first shaft during rotation of said shafts, said lost motion means providing for accelerated and decelerated rotatable movement of said die element on each side of said center position whereby straightline radial engagement between said die elements occurs both before and after arriving at said center position, and means on said driven shaft engageable with said lost motion member for causing said accelerated and decelerated movement at predetermined times in the cycle of operation.

6. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a driven shaft rotatably supported in said frame, a second shaft rotatably supported in said frame, transmission means between said driven shaft and said second shaft for causing rotation of the second shaft at a higher speed than said driven shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted on said second shaft, means between said first and second shafts for driving said loosely mounted rotary member at the same speed as said first shaft, an arm rigidly projecting from said first shaft, a die element carried by the outer end of said arm, a gear rigidly mounted on said second shaft, a planetary gear rotatable around said first-mentioned gear, lost motion means between said loosely mounted rotary member and said planetary gear for supporting the latter in operative position and including a cam follower coaxial with said planetary gear, and a cam member rotatable with said driven shaft and radially aligned with said die member arm of said driven shaft and engageable with said cam follower both before and after the die elements arrive at center position to act on said lost motion means to cause accelerated and decelerated movement of said planetary gear before and atfer the die elements arrive at center position whereby there is straight-line radial engagement between the die elements both before and after arriving at said center position.

7. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a driven shaft rotatably supported in said frame, a second shaft rotatably supported in said frame, transmission means between said driven shaft and said second shaft for causing rotation of the second shaft at a higher speed than said driven shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted on said second shaft, means between said first and second shafts for driving said loosely mounted rotary member at the same speed as said first shaft, an arm rigidly projecting from said first shaft, a die element carried by the outer end of said arm, a gear rigidly mounted on said second shaft, a planetary gear rotatable around said first-mentioned gear, lost motion means between said loosely mounted rotary member and said planetary gear for supporting the latter in operative position and including a cam follower coaxial with said planetary gear, and a cam fork rotatable with said driven shaft and radially aligned with said die member arm of said driven shaft and having a slot with curved entrance ends engageable with said cam follower both before and after the die elements arrive at center position to act on said lost motion means to cause accelerated and decelerated movement of said planetary gear before and after the die elements arrive at center position whereby there is straight-line radial engagement between the die elements both before and after arriving at said center position.

8. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a driven shaft rotatably supported in said frame, a second shaft rotatably supported in said frame, transmission means between said first shaft and said second shaft for causing rotation of the second shaft at a higher speed than said driven shaft, a gear loosely mounted on said second shaft, a gear on said driven shaft engaging said loosely mounted gear for driving the latter at the same speed as said driven shaft, an arm rigidly projecting from said first shaft, a die element carried by the outer end of said arm, a fixed gear on said second shaft, a planetary gear rotatable around said fixed gear, a lost motion arm loosely mounted on said second shaft, lost motion means between said gear and said lost motion arm for driving the latter, said planetary gear being supported on said lost motion arm and there being a cam follower coaxial with said planetary gear, and a cam member on said driven shaft aligned with said die member arm of said driven shaft and engageable with said cam follower both before and after the die elements arrive at center position to act on said lost motion means to cause accelerated and decelerated movement of said planetary gear before and after the die elements arrive at center position whereby there is straight-line radial engagement between the die elements both before and after arriving at said center position.

9. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon with a die recess, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon with a blade positioned to snugly enter the recess of the first die element, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members in which position the blade is engaged in said recess, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the die element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member on each side of said center position whereby said blade is engaged in said recess both before and after the die elements arrive at said center position, and means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation.

10. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement between pressure sealing members comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a pressure sealing element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a pressure sealing element thereon, one of said pressure sealing members be ing adapted to be heated, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frame that the pressure sealing element of one rotatable member is rotated into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the pressure sealing element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the pressure sealing element-of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straightline radial engagement between said pressure sealing ele ments, and means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation.

11. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straightline radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon with work-performing end portion, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a cooperating die element thereon with a work-performing end portion, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center portion of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the die element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said die elements, means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, and means for mounting the work-performing end portion of one die element for rocking movement around an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable members to compensate for inaccuracies in manufacture and assembly.

12. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement between pressure sealing members comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a pressure sealing element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a pressure sealing element thereon, one of said pressure sealing members being adapted to be heated, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frame that the pressure sealing element of one rotatable member is rotated into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the pressure sealing element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the pressure sealing element of one rotatable member so as to 9 provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straightline radial engagement between said pressure sealing elements, means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, and means for mounting one of said pressure sealing elements for rocking movement around an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable members to compensate for inaccuracies of manufacture and assembly.

13. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement between cooperating work-performing members comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a workperforming element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a workperforming element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frame that the work-performing element of one of said rotatable members is rotated into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the work-performing element of the other-rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member for supporting the work-performing element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said work-performing elements extending from a point before arriving at center position and lasting until a point after passing center position, means on the other rotatable member engageable with said lost motion member for causing said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, and means for mounting one of said workperforming elements for rocking movement around an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable members to compensate for inaccuracies of manufacture and assembly.

14. Apparatus for producing a prolonged straight-line radial engagement comprising a frame, a first rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, a second rotatable member rotatably mounted in said frame and having a die element thereon, said rotatable members being so positioned relative to each other in said frames that the die element of one rotatable member rotates into a center position of straight-line radial engagement with the die element of the other rotatable member during rotation of said members, common driving means for said rotatable members, means including a lost motion member having a cam follower thereon for supporting the die element of one rotatable member so as to provide for relative rotatable movement between it and its rotatable member whereby there is prolonged straight-line radial engagement between said die elements, a cam fork on the other rotatable member having a slot with cam-shaped entrance ends for coaction with said cam follower to cause said relative movement at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation, and means for adjusting the elfective length of said .cam fork.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 971,022 9/1910 Cooper 83-337 1,139,528 5/1915 Huffman 83337 3,205,117 9/1965 Osborn 156583 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

D. I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A PROLONGED STRAIGHT-LINE RADIAL ENGAGEMENT COMPRISING A FRAME, A FIRST ROTATABLE MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME AND HAVING A DIE ELEMENT THEREON, A SECOND ROTATABLE MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME AND HAVING A COOPERATING DIE ELEMENT THEREON, SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS BEING SO POSITIONED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN SAID FRAMES THAT THE DIE ELEMENT OF ONE ROTATABLE MEMBER ROTATES INTO A CENTER POSITION OF STRAIGHT-LINE RADIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DIE ELEMENT OF THE OTHER ROTATABLE MEMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID MEMBERS, COMMON DRIVING MEANS FOR SAID ROTATABLE MEMBERS, MEANS INCLUDING A LOST NOTION MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE DIE ELEMENT OF ONE ROTATABLE MEMBERS SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR RELATIVE ROTATABLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN IT AND ITS ROTATABLE MEMBER WHEREBY THERE IS PROLONGED STRAIGHT-LINE RADIAL 